Category: White Paper

Across most retail verticals, the long term viability of physical stores is being called into question. In 2016, a comScore/UPS study marked the first time consumers made more of their purchases — 51% — online than in stores, a number that will only continue to rise. Consumers are increasingly starting their shopping journey online, and at the same time are mobile, on-the-go, and seeking instant gratification. Delivery times, a source of friction for consumers that shop online, are now dropping down to just 1 to 2 days or less as Amazon has led the charge in providing the most cost-effective and convenient way for consumers to get everything they need.

Retailers must evolve to meet the changing demands of consumers and they need to do it fast because Amazon is accelerating their domination of the online channel, where most consumers begin their shopping journey.

To get this right, brick-and-mortar retailers must:

Be fast. Quickly put in place a core set of capabilities that deliver convenient, frictionless online shopping experiences around local stores.

Be future-focused. Go on the offensive by leveraging their proximity to shoppers, having their order ready, ideally in under 30 minutes, a feat even Amazon struggles to match in a cost-effective way.

Be dedicated. Conduct fulfillment at local stores flawlessly, using a set of highly efficient software tools.

For more information on how Curbside works and how it’s powering the future of retail, contact us. To learn more about how retailers can compete in the Age of Amazon, sign up now to read the white paper “Click and Collect: Not if, but when and how.”